Container



y 1944- J. M. HOTHERSALL.

CONTAINER Filed Dec. 12, 1940 Patented May 2, 1944 John M. Hothersall,

American Can Company,

Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application December 12, 1940, Serial No. 369,898

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a container or can having an attached nozzle for, dispensing fluid contents and has particular reference to a tamper-proof seal disposed in the nozzle.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of a can having a dispensing nozzle wherein the nozzle is sealed with a scored closure element which may be readily broken through to permit dispensing of the contents through the nozzle but which cannot be removed from the nozzle without destroying or deforming it, thereby preventing tampering with the contents of the can.

Another object is the provision of such a can nozzle seal which is simple and economical to produce and which may be quickly and permanentl secured in place within the nozzle.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of a can having an attached dis.- pensing nozzle embodying the instant invention, the view showing the nozzle in section and showing a reclosure cap in position above the nozzle in readiness to be applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the tamper-proof seal in the nozzle broken for dispensing the contents from the nozzle; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawing illustrates a sheet metal can I I having a flat top l2 secured in place in a suitable seam l3 and having a dispensing nozzle M for pouring fluid contents l5 from the can.

The nozzle I4 is preferably made as a separate piece and is secured to the can top l2 preferably by soldering or welding, the can top having a dispensing opening I1 which is surrounded by an annular sunken panel or recess It. The metal of the can top adjacent the inner edge of the recess extends upwardly in a cylindrical shoulder flange l9 and it is this flange that defines the opening H.

The nozzle I4 is generally cylindrical in shape and preferably comprises a straight wall cylindrical neck 2i which when the nozzle is applied to the can top, telescopes over the upstanding flange 19 of the can top in close fitting engagement therewith. The lower end of the neck extends down into the annular recess 18 and is permanently secured in place preferably by solder 22 which is run into the recess.

The neck portion 2| of the nozzle (4 extends up and merges into a flared wall section 25. The flared wall section 25 merges into an outwardly projecting bead 26 which curves inwardly toward the interior of the nozzle and terminates in a smooth curled edge 21 which defines the mouth of the nozzle. The mouth of the nozzle is slightly greater in diameter than the inside diameter of the neck 2| and the defining bead 26 provides a seat for a suitable reclosure cap 28.

Cans of this character are sometimes used for motor oil or other fluid contents which are apt to be tampered with by spurious attendants or clerks at service stations or retail stores. In order to safeguard the contents after the can is filled the nozzle i4 is sealed at the factory with a simple and ineXpensive seal 3i which may be rapidly and permanently applied to the nozzle.

The seal 3| comprises a metallic disc 32 having an integral upwardly extending and surrounding flange 33. This seal fits within the nozzle and seats against the shoulder flange IS, the uppez edge of which provides the shoulder for locating the seal in exact position. The outside diameter of the flange 33 is such that when the seal is pressed into the nozzle [4 through its mouth and is forced down into the nozzle neck 2!, it fits so tightly that it cannot again be removed without destroying it or damaging it to such an extent that such tampering is readily detected by inspection. There is thus provided a permanent seal for the nozzle to prevent tampering with the can contents.

In order to dispense the can contents through the nozzle M the seal disc 32 is adapted to be broken through by the customer. To insure easy breaking the seal is formed with circular score line 35 which is located adjacent the inner wall surface of the seal flange 33. The ends of the score line terminate adjacent an unscored hinge portion 36 of the disc.

Hence by pressing inwardly on the disc 32 the score line is readily broken through. The broken out area of the disc, however, is still attached to the flange 33 at its hinge portion 36 so that the disc is prevented from falling into the contents of the can. The hanging disc may be readily bent down into the can where it is out of the way of the contents when it is poured from the can.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

A tamper-proof container comprising a body having a top end member secured thereto, said end member, having a dispensing opening defined by an upstanding peripheral flange, a dispensing nozzle having an inner straight wall portion telesccped over and secured to said flange in tight fitting engagement therewith, and a cup shaped imperforate rupturable metal sealing disc member disposed within said nozzle in seating engagement upon the upper end of said flange, said disc member having an upstanding peripheral flange constituting an outer friction wall permanently disposed in tight frictional engagement with the inner straight wall portion of said nozzle to protect the container contents, said disc member constituting a fracturable nozzle closure element which cannot be removed from said nozzle without being destroyed or deformed so that tampering with the container may be readily detected.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

